Strawberry
Bailee Kelley
What is a strawberry?
A strawberry is a medium-large red berry that has a very distinctive taste.
What types of strawberries are there?
Surprisingly, there are 5 types of strawberrys
- Delmarvel: This strawberry is quite large, yet it has a firm texture and great flavor. It is mostly grown in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions.
- Earliglow: This berry is also firm, yet has a more sweeter taste. This type of berry tends to grow from the Northeast all the way to the South.
- Allstar: This strawberry named itself, it has a perfect shape and taste ; however, it can rarely be shipped because it's skin is so delicate.
- Ozark Beauty: This strawberry is large and sweet. Most likely to be planted in a home garden.
- Seascape: Grown in the northeast during summer and fall. This berry is also large with a sweet taste.
What nutrients do strawberries have?
- Vitamin C- This fruit has the potent antioxidants someone would need to maintain biological functions. One serving of 8 medium sized strawberrys gives 160% of the daily value needed.
- Potassium- One serving of strawberries provied 5% of the recommened daily value of Patassium in order to balance electrolytes, aid muscle contractions, and maintain a healthy blood pressure.
- Folate- Is a B vitamin which may prevent some birth defects.
- Fiber- Is a nutrient which is important for heart health. Fiber also gives a lower risk for heart diesease, high blood pressure, and improves the digestive system. 1 serving of strawberries provides 3 grams of fiber.
- Antioxidants- fight chronic diseases. Research shows that after 1 hour of eating strawberries all of the antioxidants are absorbed, which could help prevent cancer and heart diesease.
Cooking with strawberries?
Strawberries can be included in almost every dessert recipe, or they can even be eaten alone with chocolate drizzle on top. Strawberries could be made into a sauce, a garnish, or a milkshake. The possibilities are endless with strawberries.
Recipes with strawberries
Strabwerry-Buttermilk Sherbert
Ingridients:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Garnish: fresh mint sprigs
- Process strawberries in a food processor or blender 30 seconds or until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Pour strawberry puree through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a large bowl, pressing with back of a spoon. Discard solids. Add buttermilk, sugar, and vanilla to puree; stir until well blended. Cover and chill 1 hour.
- Pour strawberry mixture into freezer container of a 1 1/2-qt. electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. (Instructions and times may vary.) Garnish, if desired.
- 1 (16-oz.) package frozen strawberries, thawed, may be substituted
Balsamic Strawberries
Ingridients:
- 1 (16-oz.) container fresh strawberries, quartered
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 8 round shortbread cookies
- 8 (3-oz.) vanilla ice-cream cup
- Garnishes: chocolate curls, fresh basil sprigs
Preparation:
- Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium bowl; let stand 1 to 2 hours at room temperature, stirring occasionally.
- Place shortbread cookies on individual servings plates. Remove ice cream from cups, and place on cookies. Spoon strawberry mixture over ice cream. Garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.
Straberry Limeade
Ingridients:
- 3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 cups cold water
- 2/3 cups fresh limejuice (4 large limes)
Preparation:
- Stir together strawberries and sugar in a large bowl; crush strawberries with a wooden spoon, and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
- Process strawberry mixture in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Press mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a large pitcher, using back of spoon to squeeze out juice; discard solids. Add cold water and lime juice, stirring until blended. Cover and chill 2 to 24 hours.
Interesting Facts
- The average strawberry has 200 seeds
- The strawberry is the only fruit with seeds on the outside
- There is a mueseum in Belgium just for strawberries
To symbolize perfection and righteousness, strawberry designs were carved on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals.